刘过·《念奴娇·留别辛稼轩》英译

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知音者少，算乾坤许大，著身何处？直待功成方肯退，何日可寻归路。多景楼前，垂虹亭下，一枕眠秋雨。虚名相误，十年枉费辛苦。

不是奏赋明光，上书北阙，无惊人之语。我自匆忙天未许，赢得衣裾尘土。白壁追欢，黄金买笑，付与君为主。莼鲈江上，浩然明日归去。

 

Charm of a Maiden Singer

 

Farewell to Xin Qiji

 

Liu Guo

 

The connoisseurs are few,

Immense is the land,

Where can I stand?

If I do not retire till my aims are fulfilled,

Then when can I go back to till my field?

Before the tower of multiple view,

Under the pavilion of rainbow hue,

I’ll sleep on my pillow to hear autumn rain.

For high renown I have toiled up and down

Ten years in vain.

 

Not that I can’t write verse in palace hall

Nor that what I say has no worth at all,

But Heaven’s Son won’t approve my toil.

What I have won is but dust on my soil.

I won’t make merry with white jade,

Nor buy a beauty’s smile with gold displayed,

But leave all for you to decide.

I’ll eat my bream on native riverside.

And go home tomorrow

Without regret of sorrow.